"We must go. The will of the Government is not something we can disobey." Tsuru shook her head, making her stance clear, then waved her hand. "Let's move out!"
Just then, a man with his hands in his pockets walked over with a lazy, slouching gait. He didn't look particularly old, yet his face seemed weathered and carried a somewhat sleazy expression. He sidled up next to Tsunade.
"Uh… Gion… this war is way too dangerous. Before I possibly die out there, there are three little words I've been dying to say to you…"
"I refuse. You're too ugly."
Before Chaton could even finish his sentence, Gion shut him down with seven words, causing the others standing nearby—like Byako—to burst out laughing. "Wow, that was brutal! So straightforward!"
"I wonder how many times this has happened now?" Byako couldn't help but ask, watching yet another rejection unfold.
"I think it's been thirty-eight times so far… and just so you know, he's confessed to Vice Admiral Kaiji exactly two hundred and three times… honestly, you've got to admire his persistence!" replied a female marine standing nearby.
She was built on a massive scale, similar to Big Mom, but her skin was pitch black, she was completely bald, and she stood an imposing 2.5 metres tall. She spoke with a deep, nasal voice, sounding almost envious.
"Actually… I think Chaton and I make a pretty good pair, you know!"
---
Even though Kong had immediately ordered troops from other locations to move in and fill the gaps the moment Tsuru and her forces left, withdrawing twenty thousand men all at once created an opening that simply could not be concealed.
And because of Grimm's actions, that weakness had been exposed—and Shiki the Golden Lion seized it instantly.
Watching through his visual Den Den Mushi and sensing everything with his powerful Observation Haki, Shiki felt the gap in their defences and threw his head back in wild laughter.
"Gahahahaha! Gahahahahaha… That guy Grimm! I knew I could trust him! He truly is worthy to be my successor! Quick everyone, head straight for that opening!"
He glanced back at Plank and Yasuo—two powerful fighters he had 'rented' from Grimm, whose strength was almost equal to his own. "Yasuo, you're sure you can handle the cannon fire coming from the other direction, right?"
"Hmph, cannon fire is nothing… it's not like Ziggs' Mega Death Bomb!" Yasuo pulled down the scarf covering his mouth, giving a look of utter disdain, then took a swig of sake. "After all… I am the King of Blows!"
Plank: What an idiot… back in Summoner's Rift, didn't me and that bastard Zed beat the crap out of him constantly? And he still has the nerve to call himself the 'King of Blows'… The Captain is just too nice to him!
---
While Kaido and his crew remained at Marineford drawing the attention of the Navy's strongest fighters, and Grimm led a fifth of the monster army to assault Mary Geoise, the moment the Navy's defences showed a crack—the Golden Lion Pirates struck and began their landing!
This was the complete, masterful plan that Grimm had devised from the very beginning!
"Report! The Golden Lion Pirates' seven ships have landed at the seven o'clock position of Marineford!"
The marine speaking into the Den Den Mushi was trembling uncontrollably with fear. "And Sir… our cannonballs! They just vanish into thin air before they even hit them!"
"What?! Damn it! I'm on my way right now!" Kong slammed the receiver down in fury. He rushed out together with the other high-ranking officers, heading straight toward where Shiki had landed, roaring in anger. "Damned pirates!"
This is going to ruin my chances of promotion!
But no matter how fast Kong ran, he could never hope to outpace Shiki, who could fly through the air.
Shiki had already landed on Marineford ahead of everyone else. Standing proudly at the prow of his ship, Shiki, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Gahahahahaha! Gahahahahaha! My loyal crew! Today we shall write a legend greater than any before! Destroy Marine Headquarters! Gahahahahaha!"
"YES!"
"LET'S DO THIS!"
"GET READY TO DIE, MARINES!"
Countless pirates began swarming onto the island. With a simple wave of Shiki's hand, the remaining three massive islands—far larger than the ones Grimm had taken to Mary Geoise—plummeted down from the clouds, still filled with hordes of infected beasts.
Borsalino, who had been fighting King the Conflagration, felt the massive tremor in the air and looked up just in time to see the enormous islands crashing down toward them. One of them was positioned directly above his head.
"Oh dear… this looks like the end!"
"ISLANDS! THOSE ARE WHOLE ISLANDS FALLING FROM THE SKY!"
The marines watching were so terrified they nearly wet themselves. Meanwhile, because Shiki had flipped the islands upside down before dropping them, the infected creatures rained down from above like a terrible hailstorm.
"Mr. King would you mind giving me just a moment to take care of this little problem? Otherwise… my superiors are going to be very cross with me"
King: "Do whatever you want. You are a marine, aren't you? Correct me if I'm wrong."
Borsalino floated back, disengaging from the fight with King and staring up at the descending landmass. Dodging an attack like this would be child's play for him, but if he didn't at least pretend to try hard, it would be very difficult to maintain his lazy act back at headquarters.
Even though his great teacher Zephyr had always told him he relied too much on his Devil Fruit power… honestly, the Glint-Glint Fruit was just overwhelmingly strong!
"Yata no Kagami… no, wait… Eight Feet Shiny Mirror Ball!"
Borsalino leaped high into the air, crossing his hands together and pinching his fingers in a rather effeminate gesture. Countless particles of light gathered in his palms, and with a wave of his hand—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The beams of light shattered the massive island into pieces while incinerating many of the monsters swarming upon it.
"Sakazuki, get over here and help me out!" Seeing that Borsalino couldn't destroy the entire mass alone, Kuzan also pulled back from his own fight to assist. They could not allow these islands to crash down.
"Ice Age!"
Kuzan raised his arms high, spreading them wide like a bird spreading its wings. He unleashed a massive wave of freezing energy, sending countless ice spears blasting upward against the falling island.
At the same time, he connected the ice to the ground below, trying desperately to slow its descent and halt its momentum.
Jack could only stand there watching: Damn it… my body is just too heavy, I can't jump high enough to join in! It's really annoying when nobody is attacking me!
Two Logia users combining their strongest attacks managed to shatter one of the falling islands, but by then, countless creatures infected with the Blood Plague had already reached the ground and joined the battle.
At this moment, all the top-tier combatants on both sides were finally assembled.
THE PIRATE ALLIANCE
- Shiki the Golden Lion: Bounty 2,600,000,000 Berries
- Plank the Terror of the Seas: Bounty 800,000,000 Berries
- Yasuo the Unforgivable: Bounty 730,000,000 Berries
- Kaido of the Beasts: Bounty 2,300,000,000 Berries
- Jack the Drought: Bounty 500,000,000 Berries
- King the Conflagration: Bounty 900,000,000 Berries
Additionally, Shiki commanded 7 elite Commanders, with a combined total bounty of 3,600,000,000 Berries.
---
THE NAVAL FORCES
- The Future Three Admirals: Kuzan, Borsalino, Sakazuki
- Fleet Admiral: Kong
- Admiral: Sengoku the Buddha
- Founder of the Navy Special Unit "Crusaders", Vice Admiral: Sally Whitemane
- Head of Naval Science and Weapons Development: Senrimaru
- Plus, 19 Vice Admirals of the Marine Headquarters!
---
Sabaody Archipelago.
Although it was already half past one in the morning, the islands—located closest to Marineford yet filled with every kind of sin and debauchery—were still alive with activity.
The topic dominating every conversation was the impending showdown between the Golden Lion Pirates and Marine Headquarters.
And according to the news, the battle was scheduled to begin today.
Inside a bustling tavern, while crowds of people were excitedly discussing a war that could very well change the future of the entire world, the doors were suddenly thrown open with great force. A scruffy-looking pirate wearing a bandana shouted out to everyone inside:
Hey everyone! Hurry up and get over here! The Transponder Snail in the main square is broadcasting the battle live! It's started!
Besides the Shiki, you can see Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, and his top commanders! Also Plank, the right-hand man of Emperor Grimm, and Yasuo, the World's Greatest Swordsman! They're all at Marineford right now! The greatest war in history is about to begin!
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off